Man Accused of Attempting to Hire Hitman to Kill Model Wife

A Southern California man is accused of trying to hire a hitman in an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting his wife, a former model.

Dino Guglilmelli, 52, is accused of "attempted willful, deliberate, and premeditated murder" and "solicitation of murder," by the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

Guglilmelli allegedly met with Richard Furman on Oct. 1 and discussed with him the possibility of arranging the murder of his estranged wife, Monica Andreny, a former model and founder of a natural skin care line.

Furman instead taped the conversations and brought them to the attention of police. Guglilmelli was arrested on Oct. 3 and is being held on $10 million dollar bail, according to ABC News station KABC-TV in Los Angeles.

Guglimelli's attorney, Anthony Brooklier, told reporters he believes his client was set up and will be vindicated.

"I think when you hear the tapes, when the jury hears the tapes you'll understand he was manipulated by somebody who was trying to help himself," Brooklier said.

Brooklier implied that it was Furman who brought up the idea of arranging for Andreny's murder.

"He's the one who brought it up, that's going to be the defense and we're going to leave it up to the jury," Brooklier said.

Guglilmelli and Andreny were not only married but collaborated on business ventures. Guglilmelli's nutrient supplement company Creation's Garden, distributed his wife's skin care line, which is called Skin by Monica Olsen, at multiple department and drug stores.

However, after Guglimelli was arrested in October, his company filed for bankruptcy. The company was recently acquired by Robinson Pharma, according to a post on their website

A number listed as Andreny's was no longer in service and she previously declined a request for comment by "Good Morning America."